1917-] Ornithology of Malta. 501 



247. (329) Puffinus puffinus yelkouan (Acerbi). The 

 Levantine Shearwater. 



Local name : Garnia. 



Like the preceding, this is also a resident and breeding 

 species. It was never, however, as common, yet our wanton 

 sportsmen have greatly interfered with its numbers. Though 

 it breeds also on Filfla, it appears to do so more frequently 

 all along the southern coasts of Malta and Gozo. It is also 

 an earlier breeder than its congener. 



218. (336) Podiceps cristatus cristatus (L.). The Great 

 Crested Grebe. 



Local name : Blonyiun prim. 



A fairly common visitor during the autumn ; it is gene- 

 rally noticed by the middle o£ October and remains through- 

 out the winter with us. I have seen it only occasionally 

 during the last days of September. In the spring I have 

 never observed it, though Wright says that it occurs on 

 passage during that season. 



249. (337) Podiceps auritus (L.). The Slavonian Grebe. 

 Local name : Bloitgiun second. 



Schembri says that young individuals of this species are 

 common here during the winter. Wright states that it is 

 not very common. At present it is assuredly a rare winter 

 visitor — so much so, in fact, that I have met with it only 

 two or three times, 



250. (338) Podiceps nigricollis nigricoUis Brehm. The 

 Black-necked Grebe. 



Local name : Bloiigiun rar. 



This species is not reported either in Schembri's or 

 Wright's catalogue. The latter, however, mentions the 

 species in the second appendix to his list. 1 have seen only 

 two specimens taken in the island — one was in Mr. Micallef's 

 collection, the other was shot in Birzebbugia Bay on the 

 22nd of November, 1909, and now forms part of my col- 

 lection. The local name was given to the species by the 

 man who brought to me the last-mentioned specimen. 



